Double action tooth brush



March 7, 1939. R M XUNE 2,149,950

DOUBLE ACTION TOOTH BRUSH Filed March 1, 1938 J .Pau/Jfk/Md Patented Mar. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application March 1,

1 Claim.

This invention relates to what is termed a double action tooth brush, more particularly it is an implement intended for brushing the teeth and gums of the user in a thorough and effective manner.

The object of the invention is the production of an implement which can be easily, conveniently and effectively used either upon natural or artificial teeth, and which is believed to possess the following advantages. It cannot scratch the gums. It will clean the teeth without abrasives. It also cleans the mouth, the roof of the mouth, the upper and lower surfaces of the tongue, and the outer and inner surfaces of the gums. It cleanses by a downward twist or stroke all foreign particles that may have been Working up under the gums. By proper operation instead of tearing the gums loose from the teeth, it keeps pushing them down against the teeth. When pushing this invention back and forth along the teeth it creates a pressure on one stroke and partial vacuum on the reverse movement, which cleans all the crevices between the teeth. It may be employed to massage the muscles around the cheek and lips, keeping the lines of the face more youthful. There are no sharp cutting edges such as a bristle in a brush, and it is convenient and easy to massage the gums without risk of cutting or scratching, and in a short time the gums will be toughened. The operation of this invention in cleaning and massaging as stated, takes the place of applying the teeth to harsher and tougher foods, and gives the needed exercise and resistances naturally demanded for the preservation of the teeth. It is believed that a cleaner and massage applicator constructed in accordance with this invention is more sanitary than a brush because a brush is made up of hollow bristles set in a hard handle, and the bristles cannot be readily cleaned, whereas this invention can be thoroughly washed by squeezing and manipulation.

In the accompanying drawing the construction of this invention is illustrated.

Fig. 1 represents a side view showing all parts assembled, without the surface vacuum cups.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view.

Fig. 3 is a side view of all parts assembled showing the vacuum cups provided upon the surfaces of the head.

60 Fig. 4 is a top view of the parts in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a top view of the parts set out in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 represents a cross section on broken line 66 of Fig. 3.

5 Throughout the drawing and description the same number is used to refer to the same part.

There is provided a handle I, which may be 1938, Serial No. 193,342

constructed with its. lower end portion 2 grooved or knurled so that the handle may be grasped by the fingers and moved in any manner or given a twisting actuation. The handle may be made of relatively stiff rubber, or of any material found equivalent and desirable.

The handle is secured by vulcanizing or by any firm securing method in an integral head piece having substantially the shape set out in Fig. 1. It comprises three truncated conical parts, of which part 3 is the lower and larger member, 4 is an intermediate part, and 5 an upper part. The intermediate part 4 is inverted as shown with respect to the other conical members. The head piece is usually composed of soft rubber molded, but this invention is in nosense limited to any degree of softness in the rubber, nor is it intended to confine the material of the head to rubber only.

As usually made the invention has the form illustrated in Fig. 3. The surfaces of the conical members of the head are provided with sunken vacuum cups in any number, shape or size. The head 1 may have the oval cups 8, shaped as set out in Fig. 6, or the cups may be depressions such as the cups 9 in Fig. 3. The depth of the cups may be varied.

In the operation of this invention, the head is applied to the teeth and gums. As the handle is resilient there is no disagreeable hard or abrupt pressure at any time. The circular ridge between the upper and intermediate conical members clears the interstices between the teeth of all food particles. When this invention is brushed or rubbed against the teeth and gums, the cups produce the effect of-a partial vacuum, and this continuous and more or less strong suction operation serves to massage the gums as well as to remove particles upon or between the teeth. As stated, the head piece being of yielding material, and the handle resilient, no scratching of the gums results.

Having now described this invention and the manner of its use, I claim:-

An implement for brushing the teeth and gums; comprising a handle and a flexible head on the handle having an end portion consisting of two truncated conical parts integrally formed base to base whereby a circular ridge is constructed to act upon the teeth of the user, the said end portion being integrally joined to a longer truncated conical portion forming the body of the implement and usable to rub the gums of the user, the said body portion having the said handle secured axially therein.

PAUL M. AXLINE. 

